Obituaries

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Authorities say a hiker found dead last week at the base of a waterfall in California’s Sequoia National Park was a 53-year-old from the Los Angeles area who worked as a television director.

The Tulare County coroner’s office say David Joseph Hallinan of Santa Monica died of blunt force trauma. His body was found May 12 under water in Panther Creek.

The Fresno Bee reported Monday that Hallinan worked as a First Assistant Director in Hollywood, with credits on dozens of TV shows including “The Shield” and “Sons of Anarchy.”

The Park Service says Hallinan was hiking alone and reported missing May 11. His backpack was found at the top of the falls.

His friend and colleague Geoff Hansen tells the newspaper that Hallinan was whip smart, loved history, had a wry sense of humor and married with two kids.

A group of hikers had passed him on the Middle Fork Trail earlier that day, but they later found his backpack unattended near a campground at the top of the waterfall and made a call by satellite phone to report it, the park service said.

Hallinan was hiking in 90-degree heat and the other hikers said he looked exhausted. His body was found at the bottom of the waterfall.